Globe grip



Oct 13, 1936.; c. H. BISSELL GLOBE GR'I P Filed July 26, 1935 ATTORNEY5 I Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLOBE GRIP poration of New York Application July 26, 1935, Serial No. 33,342

8 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to lighting fixtures, and more particularly to a grip for securing a glass globe to the lighting fixture.

The invention has as an' object, a particularly economical globe grip of extremely simplified construction which is easily and conveniently operated, and which tightly grips the globe and prevents the same from becoming loosened in the fixture.

The invention has as a further object, a globe grip possessing the above advantages, and at the same time permitting expansion and contraction of the glass globe without effecting any undue stress during expansion and without becoming loosened during contraction of the globe.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had 20 to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the body portion of a lighting fixture, and a contiguous por- 5 tion of the glass globe, this view illustrating the globe grip in operative position.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure l with the glass globe in cross section. 1

v Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken on lines 3--3, Figure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on lines 4--4, Figure 1.

' Figure 5 is a plan View of a modified form of grip ring.

This invention comprises generally, the combination of a lighting fixture having a body, a glass globe detachably secured to the body, and a globe grip operable to prevent displacement or relative movement between the globe and the body,'said globe grip comprising an annular, or ringlike, member encircling the shank of the globe adjacent the body of the fixture and being secured at one side to the body of the fixture and being deflected outwardly at the opposite side in the form of a small loop, and means cooperable with the body and said loop portion for moving the loop portion radially outwardly to contract a substantial portion of the ring member on the shank of the globe.

l0 designates the body of an electric light fixture which may be of any suitable form, shape, size and construction. The body l0, here shown, is formed substantially bell shaped of cast metal and provided at its upper end with a threaded I employ a ring or annular member 20.

opening H to permit the body to be attached to the end of a conduit, it being understood that the body [0 is hollow, and a suitable lamp receptacle is mounted therein to carry the lamp for the fixture. 6 I

The bottom or mouth portion of the fixture comprises a radially extending flange l2 to which a suitable shade may be attached by means of screws threading into the holes l3.

Where it is desired toexclude moisture, dust, and the like, from the inside of the fixture, the fixture is supplied with a detachable glass globe 14. The globe l4 may be detachably secured to the body ID in any suitable manner. It is common practice, .as here shown, to provide the flange 12 of the body with internal threads l5, and to provide the shank 16 of the globe with external threads IT. The threads IS, IT, are complemental in pitch and form, and are usually a coarse thread semi-circular in cross section. 20 Usually the globe is screwed into the open end of the fixture with the upper edge, or margin, of the globe about the opening therein seating against a gasket iii of rubber, asbestos, or other suitable material. It will be understood that fixtures of this kind are not of the explosion resisting type, the glass globe being employed only to exclude moisture, dust, and the like, from the interior of the fixture, and the fixture is relamped by unscrewing the glass globe from the fixture.

In many installations, these fixtures are subject to constant vibration and this, together with the expansion and contraction of the glass globe due to the heat generated by the bulb within, often causes the globe to become loosened in the body of the fixture and accordingly, the moisture, or dust-tight joint between the globe and the body is broken. A number of different mechanisms have been employed to firmly secure the globe to the body. However, in practically all instances, these various structures are complicated both from the standpoint of manufacture and operation.

It will be understood that these fixtures are generally suspended from the ceiling at a comparatively great height requiring the workman to relamp the fixture while standing on a high ladder. Accordingly, it is desirable that any mechanism employed to secure the globe to the body should be very conveniently operated with the minimum consumption of time.

To effectively grip the globe and hold the same in place after it has been attached to the body, This ring may be severed, as shown in Figures 1 to 4,

or may be a continuous one-piece ring as shown in Figure 5. In Figures 1 to 4, the ring is split, or bifurcated, and the free ends are shaped in the form of eyes 2|, 22. These ends or eyes 2|, 22, are arranged in overlapping relationship, and are secured directly to the flange l2 of the body adjacent one side of the shank of the globe by means of the screw 23, the shank of which passes through the overlapped eyes 2|, 22, and threads into the flange l2 of the body. The major portion of the ring 20 encircles the periphery of the shank iii of the globe, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The opposite side of the ring is deflected outwardly forming a comparatively small loop portion 25.

Conveniently operable means is employed for moving the loop portion radially outwardly relative to the globe, and thereby eifecting contraction of the ring 20 about the shank of the globe. As here shown, this means comprises a screw 26, the shank portion 21 of which, adjacent the head, is formed on a taper, and the straight portion threaded complemental to a threaded hole in the flange l2 of the body. The small end of the taper 21 extends toward the body, and after the screw 26 is threaded into the body, the tapered portion 2'! of the screw shank coacts with the loop 25 causing it to move radially outward and effecting contraction of the ring about the shank of the globe.

Preferably, the ring 20 is formed of resilient material such as spring brass, whereupon as the screw 26 is threaded out of the flange I2, the loop 25 moves radially inwardly effecting an expansion of the ring. Also, the ring 20 is preferably formed of wire stock of a size complemental to the pitch and form of the thread I! on the shank of the globe and as the ring is contracted, it seats into the lower portion of the thread I! effecting a very powerful grip upon the globe. However, due to the resiliency of the ring, the globe is free to expand as it becomes heated by the bulb in the fixture without having any undue stress placed upon the globe by such expansion, and the globe is tightly gripped during all degrees of expansion and contraction. The ring may be of a one-piece continuous construction, as indicated in Figure 5, with a second loop 29 formed opposite the loop 25. The loop 29 may be in the form of an eye, and secured directly to the flange l2, or an additional cam screw 26 may be employed on the opposite side of the globe to cooperate with the loop 29.

However, I have found in practice that it is more economical to form the split, or bifurcated, ring as shown in Figures 1 to 4 which, upon a few turns of the cam screw 26, grips the globe sufliciently so that it is practically impossible for a person to unscrew the globe from the fixture. It is to be noted that my globe grip is of particularly economical construction and requires only a screw driver to operate the same, and the operation of loosening, or tightening, the grip consumes only a few seconds time.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body and a glass globe, said body and globe having coacting means for detachably securing the globe to the body, and means for preventing relative movement between the globe and the body, said means comprising an annular member encircling the globe, one side of said member being secured to the body of the fixture, and the opposite side of said member being deflected outwardly to form a small loop, cam means carried by the body and operable to move said loop portion radially outwardly and contract said member about the globe.

2. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body and a glass globe detachably secured to the body, a globe grip to prevent relative movement between the body and the globe, said grip comprising a ring member substantially encircling the globe, and being split at one side, the opposite side of said member being deflected outwardly to form a loop, the free ends of said ring member being secured to the body, and means cooperable with the body and said loop portion to move loop portion radially outwardly from the globe and contract the ring upon the globe.

3. The combination of a lighting fixture having an internally threaded body, a glass globe provided at its open end with external threads complemental to the internal threads of the body, whereby said globe may be screwed into the body, of a globe grip to prevent relative movement of the globe and the body when the globe is screwed into the latter, said grip comprising an annular member encircling the globe adjacent the end of the body and being secured at one side to the body, the opposite side of said member being deflected to form a loop, and means cooperable with the body and said loop portion to move said loop portion radially outward from the globe and contract the ring upon the globe.

4. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body, a glass globe screwing into said body, of a globe grip to prevent relative movement between the globe and the body after the globe has been screwed into the body, said globe grip comprising a split ring member with the free ends formed with overlapping eyes, and being secured to the body at one side of the globe, and the side of said ring opposite said split being deflected outwardly in the form of a small loop, the ring being arranged on the body to encircle the glass globe, a screw threading into the body and having a tapered shank coacting with said loop portion of the ring to move the same radially outwardly when the screw is threaded in the body.

5. The combination of lighting fixture having an internally threaded body, a glass globe provided with external threads at its open end complemental to the threads of the body, whereby the globe may be screwed into the body, a globe grip operable to prevent relative movement between the globe and the body when the globe is screwed into the body, said grip comprising a ring encircling the shank of the globe and having a cross section complemental in dimension to the thread on the globe, one side of said ring being secured to the body, and the opposite side of said ring being deflected outwardly to form a loop, and means cooperable with the body and said loop portion to move the same radially outward and contract the major portion of the ring in the threads on the globe.

6. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body and a glass globe, said body and globe having coacting means for detachably securing the globe to the body, and means for preventing relative movement between the globe and the body, said means comprising an annular member encircling the globe, one side of said member being secured to the body of the fixture, and cam means carried by the body and operable to move the opposite sidev of said annular member radially outwardly and contract said member about the globe.

7. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body and a glass globe detachably secured to the body, a globe grip to prevent relative movement between the body and the globe, said grip comprising a ring member substantially encircling the globe, and being split at one side, the free ends of said ring member being secured to the body, and means cooperable with the body and the side of said ring member opposite its ends to move radially said side portion outwardly from the globe and contract the ring upon the globe.

8. The combination of a lighting fixture having a body and a glass globe detachably secured to the body, a globe grip to prevent relative movement between the body and the globe, said grip comprising an annular member encircling the globe, one side of said member being secured to the body of the fixture, and means cooperable with the body and the opposite side of said annular member to move said opposite side radially outwardly from the globe to contract a substantial portion of the annular member on the globe,

CARL H. BISSELL. 

